I know I’ve written about this a lot, but I can‘t do hair. I just…can’t. It has a lot to do with my hair’s defeatist attitude towards all styles (come on,hair!), but also, like most of us, I have very little time to fight with it each morning. Ever since I got this awful hair cut, though, I’ve been desperate to give it volume and texture — and so I’m putting my fist down.

If I had known curls and waves were as easy as going to sleep, I’d have had dreamy mermaid hair long before now! I know I’m the last person in the world to hear about these techniques, but join me as I explore the easiest overnight hair-curling tutorials.

1. The Sock Bun

Yeah, yeah, nothing new, right? Wrong! It’s new to me! For my fellow rock-dwellers, all you need is a sock. Cut the tip off, pull your hair through, and slowly roll the sock out over itself, tucking the hair with it. It’ll probably be messy, but the resulting bun (cute on it’s own!) will turn your sad, boring hair into magic overnight!

2. The Headband Technique

Your hair should be dry before attempting this. Slip a stretchy headband over your crown, hippie-style. Take a medium-ish section of hair from the front and tuck it through the headband. It should be kept a little bit loose. Using the same section of hair, and adding a bit more to it, keep tucking until you reach the back of the headband. Repeat on the other side. Go to sleep — when you wake up and take the band out, your hair will be beautiful and wavy!

Here’s a video, ’cause I’m not the best instruction-giver:

3. The “Beard”

I don’t know if this is actually a thing, but it works! Separate your hair into two sections, and twist each. Pull those two twisted curls in front and, keeping them as two distinct curls, use a hair band to secure them. Keep twisting the ends, and loosely tie the two curls together at the bottom. It should look like you’re wearing a beard — although, to be fair, I’m pretty sure this would work just as well if it was behind your neck. Sleep on it, and then unravel in the morning!

Here’s another video to clarify:

4. Paper Bag Curls

Last, but not least, paper bag curls. Disclaimer: this isn’t easy, it isn’t fast, and they don’t look that great. I’m only adding this video because it’s kind of hilarious, and should I ever want Shirley Temple curls, this is how I’m gonna do it.

Cut up strips of paper bag, and wrap small sections of hair very tightly around each strip. Tie the ends of the strip together. Repeat this all around your head — if you don’t look ridiculous, then I think you’re doing it wrong. After a few hours, voila! Orphan Annie!

This kooky European girl can explain it better:

Anyways, I know that everybody’s hair is different and that these techniques aren’t right for everyone. But I’m a blank slate, and I know I’ve got a lot of experimenting to do before I figure out what’s best for my fine, pin-straight hair. But it’s a nice to have some ideas in mind when it comes to styling my ‘do, even if some of those ideas are more ridiculous than others (I’m looking at you, Annie).

The beard works better if you braid the hair instead of twisting it. When I want my hair in waves and such I normally just braid my hair the night before and then take it down the next morning. Gonna have to try the headband technique though.

Thank you for the videos. Those are a great techniques to curl my straight hair. Thanks

Lucy

guest

May 9, 2013 @ 11:33 pm

I am SO MAD right now. I tried the stupid headband technique. Let me tell you this: IT DOES NOT WORK. First of all it took me 25 minutes to tuck my hair in the headband. My hair kept falling out of it over and over again. After I went to bed I woke up the next morning and looked at my hair. It looked like an absolute NIGHTMARE! Most of my hair was completely out of the headband. I took off the headband and let it down and it was a frizzy slightly wavy mess! There were no curls at all and my head looked horrible. I ended up having to brush my hair back into a messy bun because my hair looked weird in a ponytail with all the frizz. DO NOT TRY THE HEADBAND TECHNIQUE!

chelsea

guest

May 11, 2013 @ 1:01 am

Headband technique works fantastic! I’ve been doing it for a few months. Lucy if its falling out ur not doing it right… unless ur sleeping like a tornado? I have hair 3/4ths the length of my back and I’ve never had a problem… besides the fact that its not a sexy look while u wait

Yeah, It’s the same for me. The headband technique worked great. It give amazing curls that I thought it wouldn’t do but did! If it’s not working for you maybe you have short hair or not a tight enough headband.

MADhol

guest

May 24, 2013 @ 12:17 pm

I just tried the headband technique and my hair is GORGEOUS!!! I love it! most of the other things ive tried looks way messy or like curls that have fallen almost completely out but this is soooo easy and it looks like ive curled my hair with a wand…. best aprt is, it doesn’t damage your hair!

Jenilee

guest

May 28, 2013 @ 1:04 pm

My hair is naturally “wavy” and a few inches past my shoulders. The headband technique does give lots of curls but I recommend doing it with the thickest headband you can find so the curls aren’t so tight or trying to do it loose. Overall the best way I’ve found is to do one big french brain the night before: big, loose curls all over. Just my 2 cents

Ally

guest

June 11, 2013 @ 5:43 am

The ‘paper bag’ technique use to be called rags. My grandma does it to my hair for special occasions but for it to look good you have to have really long hair. I swear to god, it works amazingly if you have dead straight, long hair that won’t curl any other way. We use pieces of fabric and generally you can get away with only doing about 10 sections, bigger sections means beautiful, big, lasting curls instead of orphan annie. haha.

Cam

guest

June 12, 2013 @ 11:23 pm

Awww some of you sound frustrated that the headband thingy doesn’t work. Like the sock bun, the headband technique takes practice… I mean, it took me 3 hours to get the sock bun right and for the headband one… a while. Some ways I kept my hair in is that I pulled the headband (from the top of my head, the section where it isn’t covered with hair) down and tied it around the hair tucked in (forming a low bun.) I did it once, it was alright. I should try it again.

Mia

guest

July 13, 2013 @ 7:41 pm

I recently tried this thing were on my freshly washed hair (wet) in small twists all over my head just twist them and then bobby pin the into place. Make sure you have enough, and its comfy in the night too! So cute funky and adorable!!

Maddie if you just pull it from the front and lightly shake your hair out it should just unravel and fall out. My hair is long an thick so sometimes I have to play with it a bit to get it all out. But be careful if u mess with it too much it will get frizzy an knotted!

Headband curls kinda worked for me… Is it alright if the top of my hair above the headband remained stick-straight like my hair normally does? And I’m trying out the beard curls to see if they work.

Allana

guest

November 11, 2013 @ 7:55 pm

Another way is take a shower and while your hair is wet braid it and go to sleep when you wake up take the braid out and your hair will be wavy.

carmen

guest

December 26, 2013 @ 8:53 pm

I’ve used the headband technique for a while, the curls look great, that is if my hair hasn’t been ripped out by undo-ing the band

CoutureConnoseiur

guest

April 1, 2014 @ 1:24 am

Head band curls are a must. Make sure hair is about 90% dry. My hair is on the thinner side and was slightly damp and my hair still was damp later the next morning. I’d suggest two more things; if your hair is difficult to curl try using some light holding moose while hair is still wet before doing headband technique. Also if you don’t want to look like a poodle you must perfect making larger loops on the head band. Good luck !

I dont think this technique worked well with me because i am a black african american and it didnt work AT ALL!!!!!

Tyler Allison

guest

July 7, 2014 @ 11:13 pm

I’ve tried all of these and the only one that didn’t work well was the sock bun but that’s only because I have relatively short hair. I found that the paper bag curls look a lot better after an hour or so. As for the headband technique, it helps if you use a thick head band or do it kind of loosely. Also bobby pin it in if you don’t want it to fall out over night! I also had to use bobby pins with the beard because of my layers.

i love this website awesome love will try this but i know a girl called maria gwillim who spilts her hair in to 2 and puts oneside into a bun then the otherside into a bun.

Samantha

guest

February 4, 2015 @ 3:34 pm

I also find that the “Paper Bag Curls” can be done well with hair pins.

Chelsey

guest

February 26, 2015 @ 12:02 pm

My hair is long, and thick. If i curl it with a wand, it dont stay long. Im wondering if i tried the headband technique with wet hair, if it would still look just as good. because my normal hair is frizzy. i hate it!!